How
diversified can an ATV game get anyway? We already
have ATV Off-Road Fury, which currently holds the
title, and now we have ATV Quad Power Racing 2. What
are the differences and how do you tell them apart?

Confronted
by both games at the store I can't say that you would
go wrong with either one. They are both good games
that allow us to experience the thrills and spills
of an exciting ATV race through a variety of environments.
Where you could go wrong is in purchasing this game
thinking that it's an improved version of Off-Road
Fury. It's not. Quad Power Racing 2 is basically in
the same leagues as Fury which is disappointing since
Fury is more than a year old already.

Where
Quad Power Racing 2 differs is in the difficulty aspect
of the gameplay. This game is much easier to play.
You will get much deeper into it before you start
looking around for cheat codes. This is good news
for occasional gamers. The controls are simple and
pulling off tricks couldn't be easier. Launch yourself
into the air and press the trick button while manipulating
the analog stick. This will earn you points and turbo
boosts which can help you catch up to the pack or
maintain your lead, though it's really just a short-term
aid.

The
key to playing this game is in knowing how to handle
your machine on the terrain. The environments include
beach, dirt, forest, ice and a construction site.
Aside from compensating for the surfaces, there will
be plenty of hills and obstacles in your path. You
can make short work of some of these obstacles by
using the pre-load button. Simply press it when you
begin to climb a hill and release it at the exact
moment you reach the top. Like a recoiled spring,
your launch will be more powerful allowing you to
stay in the air longer, complete more tricks and land
further down the track. Timing of the pre-load in
the mogul section of a track is crucial.

An
attack button allows for some aggressive gameplay
whereby you can attempt to knock another rider off
his machine and take over his position. This works
both ways and it won't be long until you begin taking
some shots out of nowhere from similarly aggressive
players. It's like stirring up a hornets nest.

Modes
in the game include Career, Single, Arcade, Freestyle,
Challenge and Time Trials. The Career mode is where
you unlock new quads and open new tracks. Freestyle
allows you to get some practice in without the added
pressure of a race, or you can just drive along at
your own pace and appreciate the scenery. Challenge
puts you to the test on the ground and in the air.
An arena is filled with ramps, obstacles and a slalom
course. You have to complete certain objectives within
a time limit. You can also take the challenge of crossing
a variety of bridges that span suspended platforms.
I hope you're not afraid of heights because the depth
and 3D perspective is awe inspiring.

Not
the greatest looking game ever, at least the environments
will keep you interested and there is always something
new around every turn. The framerate is smooth for
most of the game and the draw distance lets you see
far down the track; it's especially noticeable when
you reach open areas. The vehicles look great and
display some nice reflective lighting effects. The
riders are crude looking and suffer from marionette-motion
syndrome. The tunes are hard rocking but at only seven
tracks you're going to grow very tired of them.

Recommended
for beginning to intermediate gamers, this game might
not even be worth a rental to the veteran player as
it could be construed as a dumbed down version of
Off-Road Fury.